Synopsis On 14November 1995, the Canadian bulk carrier ALGOSOUND was bound for Burn's Harbour in the United States with a cargo of 24,743 tonnes of iron ore from Pointe-Noire, Quebec. The vessel was transiting the Port of Montreal, Quebec, in poor visibility, under the conduct of a pilot. When the ALGOSOUND was abreast of buoy Expo, the pilot ordered hard-a-port helm, and the vessel grounded shortly thereafter off buoy M191. There were no injuries or pollution as a result of this occurrence. Other Factual Information Particulars of the Vessel Port of Registry Sault Ste.Marie, Ontario Built 1965, (forepart) Lauzon, Quebec; (afterpart) Montreal, Quebec Propulsion Two steam turbines totalling 7,282kW On 14November 1995, the ALGOSOUND, upbound in the Seaway with a pilot on board, was heading for the approach wall of the Saint-Lambert Lock at a speed of eight knots. The vessel was proceeding to the approach wall to moor until weather conditions improved and navigation resumed in the Seaway. Visibility was restricted in snow, and the wind from the north-north-east was estimated at 35knots. At 2237(1), when the vessel was abreast of section 43SW of the Laurier Pier, the pilot ordered a course of 190gyro(G), which should have enabled him to see the light of the le Ste-Hlne buoy straight ahead. As the vessel moved through the turn, the pilot noticed a flashing white light on the port beam. Believing that this was the light of the le Ste-Hlne buoy and that the vessel had passed the entrance to the Canal de la Rive Sud, the pilot ordered hard-a-port helm. This sudden order by the pilot apparently surprised the master and the officer of the watch on the bridge, but no one challenged the order because the officer of the watch was at the chart table and the master tried to visually ascertain what had prompted the pilot to give the order before countermanding it. No one asked the pilot to explain the reason for the course alteration. The engine speed remained the same at eight knots until the navigating personnel realized the error a few seconds later. By that time, the ship had already touched bottom. As the vessel was already turning to port, the pilot's order for hard-a-port helm increased the rate of the turn. Shortly thereafter, the ALGOSOUND grounded off buoy M191, east of the channel. The vessel managed to refloat herself at 0047 on 15November 1995. No damage was reported as a result of the grounding.